Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) orchestrate low-grade chronic adipose tissue inflammation, linking obesity and insulin resistance. Whereas factors contributing to macrophage accumulation in adipose tissue are established, little is known regarding signals that link adipocyte stress to proinflammatory activation of macrophages. Natural killer (NK) cells are specialized innate lymphocytes that identify and respond to stressed cells. In this Opinion, we discuss the possibility of NK cells to function as sensors recognizing adipose tissue stress. We further summarize recent literature suggesting NK cells to play an important role in development of insulin resistance via secretion of cytokines that stimulate proinflammatory polarization of ATMs. This suggests adipose tissue-resident NK cells as a pharmacological target for the treatment of obesity-induced insulin resistance.

中文翻译：

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自然杀伤细胞作为脂肪组织压力的传感器

脂肪组织巨噬细胞 (ATM) 协调低度慢性脂肪组织炎症，将肥胖和胰岛素抵抗联系起来。尽管已经确定了导致脂肪组织中巨噬细胞积累的因素，但关于将脂肪细胞应激与巨噬细胞促炎激活联系起来的信号知之甚少。自然杀伤 (NK) 细胞是特化的先天淋巴细胞，可识别和应对应激细胞。在本意见中，我们讨论了 NK 细胞作为识别脂肪组织压力的传感器的可能性。我们进一步总结了最近的文献，表明 NK 细胞通过分泌刺激 ATM 促炎极化的细胞因子在胰岛素抵抗的发展中发挥重要作用。